Artificial dentures and stress relieving attachment therefor



March W6? H. s.

ARTIFICIAL DENTUEES AND STRESS RELIEUIU'CI' ."\"."Q' ";'FZ 1TH. r T m Filed Sept. 23, 1964 INVENTOR FE 2 HOLGER s. FLOREN BY W A g ATTORNEY United States Patent Ofi 33%,?71 Patented Mar. 21, 1967 3,30%,771 ARTEFEQTAL DENTURES AND STRESS RELIEVING ATTACHIWENT THEREFOR Holger S. Flor-en 1635 NE. 111th St., Miami, Fla. 33161 Filed Sept. 23, 1964, Ser. No. 398,523 6 Claims. (Cl. 327) This invention relates generaliy to devices that combat mechanical stresses which occur at the time of recession of tissue in the mouth. That is to say at that time the saddle or saddles of a partial denture often fail to contact with the gums in the mouth and, so that the abutment or anchor tooth then becomes obliged to carry the Whole load caused by the pressure applied from the chewing force, and the invention contemplates means to distribute the stress evenly to the abutment tooth and the gum.

The present invention finds particular application where recession of the gums may be expected, as following a tooth extraction and, in such cases it reduces the stress on the abutment tooth to which is engaged the clasp of a partial denture. 'By virtue of the invention, partial dentures are made partly tissue bearing and thus strain on the clasp tooth is minimized, which in turn reduces probability of infection and decay, or damage to the clasped tooth caused by the stress of the clasp during the progressive recession of the tissue.

I contemplate the manufacture of the present invention as an attachment for dentures. Various sizes may be employed to be determined by the amount of space available in the mouth of a patient and the length of the teeth. The attachment comprises a crescent-shaped body having an element for securing the body to the frame of a denture, as by casting or otherwise securing the body prior to the completion of the denture. The body is arranged in an upright manner to lie against and conform to the anchor or abutment tooth and the body is recessed for its major height and with the recess being provided with alternate ridges and grooves, similar to a ratchet and with a bar, being slidable through a bushing and longitudinally split at its lower end to provide outwardly biased arms, having teeth that progressively engage the ridges and grooves and with the bar projecting at its upper end from the bushing and connected to a clasp that embraces the abutment tooth and also resting within a notch of the tooth and with the frame, the body portion and the clasp being adjustable in order that the frame, When molded to a predetermined contour may rest upon the gum tissue whereby the recession of the gum carries the body member with it and since the clasp is supported upon the abutment tooth, the bar will be automatically adjustable in the body portion as the gum recedes thereby minimizing stress upon the abutment tooth during the use of the denture.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of the invention to provide a novel device for securing dentures to the teeth of a patient and that is automatically adjustable to relieve the stress upon an abutment tooth that supports the denture.

It is another object of the invention to provide a selfadjusting coupling device between the clasp and the saddle of a partial denture.

The above and still further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description of one specific embodiment thereof, especially when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view showing the invention associated with a clasp and a frame to which the denture is molded,

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged vertical section taken substantially on line 2-2 of FIGURE 1,

FIGURE 3 is a transverse section taken substantially on line 3-3 of FIGURE 2, and

FIGURE 4 is a section taken substantially on line 44 of FIGURE 2.

Referring specifically to the drawings, the reference numeral 1 indicates the gum of a patient and with an abutment tooth 2. to which the artificial denture is to be secured, the abutment tooth 2 being a natural tooth of the patient. The numeral 3 denotes a saddle or frame that supports the artificial denture and that is contoured in accordance with the curvature of the gum and may be of any desirable construction, such as metal. At one end, the saddle 3 may be Welded or other-wise connected to a lingual bar and where the denture embodies two sep arate members at opposite sides of the mouth. Obviously the bar 4 will be eliminated when a single denture is to be installed in only one side of the mouth. The frame 3 is of conventional construction and forms a part of the artificial denture that rests upon the gum 1.

Connected to the frame 3 as by welding or wax spotting is a generally V-shaped foot 5. The foot 5 is integral with the lower end of a crescent shaped body portion 6, see particularly FIGURE 2. The body portion 6 and the leg 5 are molded of suitable material, such as metal or plastic and a curved portion 7 engages the side of the abutment tooth 2, shown more clearly in FIGURE 4. The body portion 6 is vertically recessed at 8 and the recess is preferably cylindrical. The Walls of the recess 8 carry alternate ridges and grooves shown at 9 and the recess 8 is open at the top of the housing and is internally threaded to receive a threaded bushing 10 that is cylindrically apertured at 11. A washer 12 may be engaged beneath the head of the bushing 10 and the top of the body 6 to constitute means to securely hold the bushing in position and to also seal the bushing against entry of foreign matter to the recess 8. While a washer may be employed, any suitable mastic may be engaged beneath the flange of the bushing 10 to seal against the top of the housing 6.

Slidable through aperture 11 is a cylindrical bar 13 offset at its upper end as indicated at 14 and with the offset 14 being welded or otherwise connected to a clasp 15. The clasp is provided with arms 16 and an intermediate lip portion 17 to which the offset 14 is welded and with the lip 17 seating upon the top of the tooth 2.

The bar 13 extends through the bushing 10 into the recess S and the lower end of the bar is split as indicated at 18, forming resilient legs 19. The legs 19 are provided with one or more teeth 20 that yieldably engages the ridges and grooves 9. The legs 19 are also yieldable and spring outwardly to maintain the teeth 21 into engagement with the ridges and grooves 9.

The aperture 11 of the bushing 10 slidably receives the bar 13 and to seal the bar wit-h respect to the bushing, the wall forming the aperture 11 is internally grooved to receive an O-ring that permits the bar to slide in the bushing yet prevents the entry of any foreign matter into the recess 8.

In the use of the device, the size of this coupling device to be employed is first determined in accordance with the length of the teeth and then the leg 5 of the body portion 6 is engaged with the saddle 3 and either Welded or held temporarily thereto by wax. The bar 13 is then inserted through the aperture 11 and its upper offset end 14 shaped to engage the intermediate portion 17 of the clasp 15. The bushing 19 is then threaded into the opening of the recess 8 and the bar 13 is shifted to the upper ridges and grooves 9 and the clasp then adjusted to the abutment tooth 2. The saddle 3, carrying the artificial teeth is then encased in acrylic plastic that conforms to the gum. The molded denture is then inserted into the mouth of the user to rest upon the gum 1 and the clasp then engaged with and shaped to conform to the curvature of the tooth 2 and the bar 13 then adjusted downwardly with respect to the ridges and grooves 9 until the clasp fully engages the sides and top of the tooth 2. During the use of the denture, it may be found that the gum has receded and pressure is exerted thereon by chewing, causing the denture to settle upon the gum 1 and, since the clasp is held by the tooth 2, the bar 13 will be shifted in the aperture 8 to automatically adjust the denture with respect to the tooth 2, thereby automatically adjusting the denture to overcome any excess pressure upon the tooth 2 and the legs 19 with the teeth 20 has sufficient anchoring engagement with the ridges and grooves 9 so that the denture will automatically seat upon the gum and simultaneously relieve any excess pressure that would ordinarily be present with the tooth 2, avoiding any tendency to cause the anchor tooth 2 to become loose. While the foot 5 has been indicated as being integrally molded to the body 6, the foot 5 may be carried by a threaded stud that would engage into a threaded lower end of the recess 8. The bushing must be rounded on the occlusal surface. When the attachment is installed, it reaches the height of the rest on the natural tooth 2. The adjustable device, when connected to a partial denture upon the opposite side of the month, has the lingual bar automatically adjustable in order that the lingual bar does not bind upon the gums in the front of the mouth while the dentures are adjusting with respect to the recession of the gums and this adjusting is automatically performed by the chewing action of the individual.

To install the attachment on an old removable partial denture, the operator strips the case ofi the teeth and the acrylic from the metal frame. After the model is poured for the case and articulated there is then cut a space for attachment adjacent to the rest and the upright section is removed from the clasp to saddle. The attachment is then welded to the clasp and saddle. The teeth are then reset in wax process and the partial denture is finished in the conventional manner except for the rest area. The use of the serrations is preferred to an allthreaded screw type arrangement.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that a very novel means has been provided to automatically adjust a denture with respect to an abutment tooth to remove any stress that would oridinarily be present with respect to the abutment tooth as the gums recede. The device is simple in construction, is strong, durable and most efiective for the purposes indicated.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the precise construction shown, but that changes are contemplated as readily fall within the spirit of the invention as shall be determined by the scope of the subjoined claims.

I claim:

1. A partial denture having a pressure-actuated adjustable coupling device, a clasp for an abutment tooth and a saddle comprising, in combination, a saddle constituting a frame for the partial denture, a housing connected to the saddle and upstanding therefrom to lie closely adjacent to the side of an abutment tooth, the housing being chambered downwardly for its major height, the chamber being open at the top of the housing, a bushing fitting into the opening of the chamber, the bushing being apcrtured, an adjustable rod passing through the aperture in the bushing and having its lower end entering into the chamber, the chamber having fixed means within it for adjustable engagement with the lower part of the rod, a clasp for the abutment tooth, the upper end of the rod being attached to the clasp, the portion of the rod in the chamber having yieldable connection with the fixed means in said chamber whereby the attached clasp is automatically adjustable with respect to the saddle to minimize pressure upon the gums and the abutment tooth.

2. A partial denture having a pressure-actuated adjustable coupling device, a clasp for an abutment tooth and a saddle comprising, a saddle and a clasp, the clasp adapted to embrace a natural abutment tooth and the partial denture adapted to rest upon the gums, the coupling device embodying a molded housing connected to the top of the saddle and projecting upwardly to lie closely adjacent to the natural abutment tooth, the housing being shaped to partially conform to the abutment tooth, the housing being provided with a cylindrical recess open at the top, the recess having its wall provided with serrations, a bushing fitted into the opening of the recess, the bushing being axially cylindrically apertured, a cylindrical bar slidable through the aperture in the bushing and projecting into the recess and also projecting above the housing and fixedly attached to the clasp, means at the lower end of the bar having yieldable engagement with the serrations whereby the saddle and the housing are automatically adjustable with respect to the clasp to minimize and equalize pressure upon the gum and the abutment tooth.

3. The structure according to claim 2, wherein the housing is vertically disposed, said housing being of crescent shape in transverse section so that a wall of said housing conforms generally to the side of the abutment tooth, the housing at its lower end being provided with a leg at right angles to the housing, said leg having fixed engagement with the saddle, the saddle being connected to a lingual bar connected to a second partial denture at the opposite side of the mouth of the user, the adjustment with respect to the saddle and the clasp also being capable of shifting the lingual bar downwardly in spaced relation to the gum.

4. The structure according to claim 2, wherein the bushing is threaded into the upper end of the cylindrical recess and the bushing is sealed with respect to the housing, the bushing being provided in its aperture with a sealing ring that engages against the bar and prevents foreign matter from entering the recess.

5. The structure according to claim 2, wherein the clasp has an intermediate lip portion and the upper extremity of the bar is shaped laterally and is fixed to said lip portion.

6. A coupling device of the character described for adjustably connecting a clasp to a saddle of a partial denture, the clasp having arms which embrace an abutment tooth and the clasp having an intermediate lip that seats within a cavity of the abutment tooth, a housing of crescent shape having one side inwardly curved to partially conform to the abutment tooth, the housing at its lower end being provided with a wedge-shaped leg portion adapted to be fixed to the saddle, the housing being provided with a cylindrical recess for its major length and with said recess for its major length being provided with internal serrations, the upper end of the recess being threaded, a bushing threadably engaged with the threads in the housing and the bushing being flanged circumferentially to rest upon the top of the housing, a compressible washer disposed between the flange of the bushing and the top of the housing to seal the recess against entry of foreign matter, the bushing being apertured axially of the recess, a bar slidable through said aperture, the bar projecting above the bushing for attachment to the lip of the clasp, the bushing also being provided in its aperture with a cylindrical groove, an O-ring received in said groove and engaging against the side of the bar, the bar extending into the recess, the bar being split vertically to form a pair of expandable leg portions, the leg portions being provided with teeth that yieldably engage the serrations and whereby the bar is vertically movable relatively to the housing to adjust the clasp with respect to the saddle, the saddle, the housing and its leg being References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 4/1928 Oscher 32-5 8/1952 Ludwig 327 RICHARD A. GAUDET, Primary Examiner.

ROBERT E. MORGAN, Examiner. 

1. A PARTIAL DENTURE HAVING A PRESSURE-ACTUATED ADJUSTABLE COUPLING DEVICE, A CLASP FOR AN ABUTMENT TOOTH AND A SADDLE COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A SADDLE CONSTITUTING A FRAME FOR THE PARTIAL DENTURE, A HOUSING CONNECTED TO THE SADDLE AND UPSTANDING THEREFROM TO LIE CLOSELY ADJACENT TO THE SIDE OF AN ABUTMENT TOOTH, THE HOUSING BEING CHAMBERED DOWNWARDLY FOR ITS MAJOR HEIGHT, THE CHAMBER BEING OPEN AT THE TOP OF THE HOUSING, A BUSHING FITTING INTO THE OPENING OF THE CHAMBER, THE BUSHING BEING APERTURED, AN ADJUSTABLE ROD PASSING THROUGH THE APERTURE IN THE BUSHING AND HAVING ITS LOWER END ENTERING INTO THE CHAMBER, THE CHAMBER HAVING FIXED MEANS WITHIN IT FOR ADJUSTABLE ENGAGEMENT WITH THE LOWER PART OF THE ROD, A CLASP FOR THE ABUTMENT TOOTH, THE UPPER END OF THE ROD BEING ATTACHED TO THE CLASP, THE PORTION OF THE ROD IN THE CHAMBER HAVING YIELDABLE CONNECTION WITH THE FIXED MEANS IN SAID CHAMBER WHEREBY THE ATTACHED CLASP IS AUTOMATICALLY ADJUSTABLE WITH RESPECT TO THE SADDLE TO MINIMIZE PRESSURE UPON THE GUMS AND THE ABUTMENT TOOTH. 